If Bristol get relegated the Dregs will be will be more attractive (relatively speaking) to Ian Evnas and the Orange Peril, both of whom have been linked with the region. Can't see either of them getting an NDC though.

I think they should try and get Jonathan Evans back from the Scarlets (should never have let him leave in the first place); Pretorious is the only SH at the Dragons that isn't completely awful. If Evans is unavailable, Rhodri Williams at Bristol can't be too enthusiastic about the prospect of playing in the Championship either; though I don't see either of them getting an NDC.

To be honest, I can't see anyone coming in on an NDC because the few players elsewhere who might be in line for one aren't going to be attracted enough by the region as it is to go play there. Their best bet for an NDC would be for one or two of their up and coming players to get them, maybe Harri Keddie or Ashton Hewitt. Either that or the WRU might just slap one on Cory Hill just out of sympathy. Rory Thornton has one and seems to be behind Hill in the national team's pecking order.

The dual contracts were/are/should be, meant to keep players in Wales who would be prime targets for big clubs outside of Wales, in truth there are only a handful of players that relates to. So they are merely used as an insentive for certain players within the gold fish bowl of Welsh rugby, some of the players given them would merely be squad fodder in big clubs, at best. Welsh rugby is a very comfortable place to play and get payed good wages without being particularly exceptional. Nice work if you can get it and it's relatively easy to hang on too. At the end you can pick up a severance payment the Dragons for a few seasons, less a development region than a halfway house between retirement and playing.

I think you are right but I believe the dual contracts offer slightly more than that.

In the case of the Dragons in theory, the Dual Contracts offer the team a bit of atability and keep more or less the critical mass of players to keep them in the team and ensure a base of quality. My understanding is that in part Faletau left because of the lack of signings at the Dragons. But it is difficult for the Dragons because they have to spend more to attract players.

Or put another way, if for arguments sake the Dragons had been able to retain the following players, they would be a much better team and able to attract more players: if an NDC systrm had been in place 6 or 7 years ago, most of these players would still be there.

Brew, Charteris, Dan Evans, Faletau and Lydiate.

Is the purpose of the contracts to keep top players in Wales or at underperforming regions. Dan Evans has never deserved a central contract, neither as Brew... I believe both TF and LC was offered them and Lydiate has one and is in Wales, although even when fit was not automatic choice for the Ospreys and could not make the starting team in France. If we spread the talent accross the regions will we ever compete at European club level. There are more questions than answers in Welsh rugby

I don't necessarily say that they deserve central contracts but my point is that if a better contract system could have been imposed there earlier (or which the NDCs might have been the answer) they would be a better team as a result. By the time Faletau was offered one he was already established and it was too late.

A team that contains all of the players mentioned is more likely to win and more likely to be able to attract better players and more likely to be able to retain youth players. The Dragons underperform for a number of reasons, not least because they can't retain and can't attract players.

As it is, if the Ospreys and Dragons were after the same player, the Dragons would likely have to spend more than the Ospreys to make the deal more attractive.

Re Dan Evans by the way, I seem to remember it not necessarily bejng Evans choice?

I just fail to see the connection between making the Dragons better by shifting resources.... The problem is the resources. The central contracts are there to keep players within Wales, not within clubs in Wales. Giving a player a central contract, that is a asset to the Dragons, but is unlikely to be a asset to team Wales is pointless in my view.

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Wed Mar 08, 2017 1:21 pm

Cymru am byth

World XV Player

Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:19 pmPosts: 7095

Re: Dragons sign Zane Kirchner

Blindside wrote:

Cymru am byth wrote:

Blindside wrote:

Cymru am byth wrote:

Blindside wrote:

Figaro wrote:

If Bristol get relegated the Dregs will be will be more attractive (relatively speaking) to Ian Evnas and the Orange Peril, both of whom have been linked with the region. Can't see either of them getting an NDC though.

I think they should try and get Jonathan Evans back from the Scarlets (should never have let him leave in the first place); Pretorious is the only SH at the Dragons that isn't completely awful. If Evans is unavailable, Rhodri Williams at Bristol can't be too enthusiastic about the prospect of playing in the Championship either; though I don't see either of them getting an NDC.

To be honest, I can't see anyone coming in on an NDC because the few players elsewhere who might be in line for one aren't going to be attracted enough by the region as it is to go play there. Their best bet for an NDC would be for one or two of their up and coming players to get them, maybe Harri Keddie or Ashton Hewitt. Either that or the WRU might just slap one on Cory Hill just out of sympathy. Rory Thornton has one and seems to be behind Hill in the national team's pecking order.

The dual contracts were/are/should be, meant to keep players in Wales who would be prime targets for big clubs outside of Wales, in truth there are only a handful of players that relates to. So they are merely used as an insentive for certain players within the gold fish bowl of Welsh rugby, some of the players given them would merely be squad fodder in big clubs, at best. Welsh rugby is a very comfortable place to play and get payed good wages without being particularly exceptional. Nice work if you can get it and it's relatively easy to hang on too. At the end you can pick up a severance payment the Dragons for a few seasons, less a development region than a halfway house between retirement and playing.

I think you are right but I believe the dual contracts offer slightly more than that.

In the case of the Dragons in theory, the Dual Contracts offer the team a bit of atability and keep more or less the critical mass of players to keep them in the team and ensure a base of quality. My understanding is that in part Faletau left because of the lack of signings at the Dragons. But it is difficult for the Dragons because they have to spend more to attract players.

Or put another way, if for arguments sake the Dragons had been able to retain the following players, they would be a much better team and able to attract more players: if an NDC systrm had been in place 6 or 7 years ago, most of these players would still be there.

Brew, Charteris, Dan Evans, Faletau and Lydiate.

Is the purpose of the contracts to keep top players in Wales or at underperforming regions. Dan Evans has never deserved a central contract, neither as Brew... I believe both TF and LC was offered them and Lydiate has one and is in Wales, although even when fit was not automatic choice for the Ospreys and could not make the starting team in France. If we spread the talent accross the regions will we ever compete at European club level. There are more questions than answers in Welsh rugby

I don't necessarily say that they deserve central contracts but my point is that if a better contract system could have been imposed there earlier (or which the NDCs might have been the answer) they would be a better team as a result. By the time Faletau was offered one he was already established and it was too late.

A team that contains all of the players mentioned is more likely to win and more likely to be able to attract better players and more likely to be able to retain youth players. The Dragons underperform for a number of reasons, not least because they can't retain and can't attract players.

As it is, if the Ospreys and Dragons were after the same player, the Dragons would likely have to spend more than the Ospreys to make the deal more attractive.

Re Dan Evans by the way, I seem to remember it not necessarily bejng Evans choice?

I just fail to see the connection between making the Dragons better by shifting resources.... The problem is the resources. The central contracts are there to keep players within Wales, not within clubs in Wales. Giving a player a central contract, that is a asset to the Dragons, but is unlikely to be a asset to team Wales is pointless in my view.

Good point but Lydiate and Dan Evans aside, the other players mentioned are outside Wales. With Lydiate arguably being in a position to contribute more if he had come back to the Dragons.

Wed Mar 08, 2017 2:36 pm

Fids the Blindside

World XV Player

Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2004 9:50 pmPosts: 87766

Re: Dragons sign Zane Kirchner

Short career etc

Whats the drama?

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Fri Mar 10, 2017 6:35 pm

simondavis

World XV Player

Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 10:29 pmPosts: 5751Location: Lincoln

Re: Dragons sign Zane Kirchner

I thought the title to this thread was a joke. It seems like a joke. Why would he sign for The Drags? Are they suddenly in the money?

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Fri Mar 10, 2017 7:09 pm

Fids the Blindside

World XV Player

Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2004 9:50 pmPosts: 87766

Re: Dragons sign Zane Kirchner

Thats just it, they've had te money but havn't spent it on the player budget. Allegedly

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